When it comes to buying new furniture, two major brands often come to mind: England Furniture and Flexsteel. Both companies have been manufacturing furniture for over 100 years and have built a reputation for quality and durability.
But how exactly do England and Flexsteel compare? What are the key differences shoppers should consider when deciding between these two brands?
In this detailed guide, we’ll examine the pros, cons, features and other factors that set England Furniture and Flexsteel apart. Whether you’re looking for sofas, recliners, bedroom sets or office furniture, this breakdown aims to provide the information you need to determine which brand best aligns with your needs and budget.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Criteria | England Furniture | Flexsteel |
| Styles Offered | Mostly traditional, some transitional | Traditional, transitional, contemporary, modular |
| Customization Options | Limited fabric selection, standard cushion dimensions | Vast fabric selection, customizable dimensions and configurations |
| Manufacturing Approach | Single main factory in Tennessee | Multiple factories across 5 US states |
| Component Sourcing | Mainly US-sourced | US and imported parts |
| Price Range | Mid-range to high-end | Mid-range to ultra high-end |
| Warranties | Limited lifetime on frames, 5 years on cushions | Limited lifetime on frames, cushions, recliners |
| Shopping Process | In-store only, no samples | In-store only, free fabric swatches |
Overview of England Furniture
Founded in 1890 in New Tazewell, Tennessee, England Furniture is one of America’s oldest furniture manufacturers. The company produces upholstered furniture, bedroom sets, dining sets and occasional tables sold in furniture stores across the United States.
Key Features:
- Upholstered furniture collections include stationary sofas, sectionals, chairs and ottomans. Styles range from classic to contemporary.
- England is known for their plush, overfilled cushions featuring dense foam, fibers and down feathers.
- Many of their fabrics and leathers come with stain-resistant treatments.
- Bedroom furniture available in wood, metal and upholstered styles with traditional to modern silhouettes.
- Formal dining collections offered along with casual dining and bar height sets.
- Wide selection of living room tables, desks, entertainment centers and curio cabinets.
- Most England furniture comes with limited lifetime warranties.
Price Range: Mid-range to high-end
England Furniture competes in the medium to high price ranges for residential furniture. Expect to spend $1,000 to $5,000 or more for a leather sofa.
Overview of Flexsteel
Headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, Flexsteel Industries was founded in 1893. The company sells upholstered furniture, recreational vehicle seating, office chairs and commercial healthcare furniture.
Their products are available through authorized dealers in the U.S. along with select international retailers.
Key Features:
- Upholstery lines include sofas, loveseats, sectionals, chairs, recliners and ottomans in leather, fabric and microfiber.
- Cushion cores made from soy-based foams, feathers and fibers.
- Many collections offer customizable configurations, widths, depths and arm styles.
- Styles range from transitional looks with classic details to contemporary silhouettes.
- Extensive custom fabric selection from brands like Duralee, Pindler, and more.
- Flexsteel Commercial offers workplace and healthcare seating. Flexsteel Contract manufactures for senior living communities and hotels.
- Most Flexsteel furniture comes with limited lifetime warranties.
Price Range: Mid-range to ultra high-end
As a premium furniture manufacturer, Flexsteel’s prices span the middle to luxury market. Expect to pay $1,500 to $5,000 for a decent-quality leather sofa. Custom orders with designer fabrics can easily exceed $10,000.
Key Differences Between Flexsteel And England Furniture
Now that we’ve provided an overview of each company, let’s take a more in-depth look at how England and Flexsteel compare across some key factors:
Quality and Craftsmanship
Both England Furniture and Flexsteel have built solid reputations for quality furniture that lasts. But there are some differences in how each company achieves this craftsmanship that are worth noting:
England Furniture
- All wood frames and components made in their U.S. factories. Minimal sourcing of parts from overseas.
- Foam and fibers for cushions are sourced from American suppliers.
- Eight-way, hand-tied spring coils used in seat cushions along with premium padding.
- Leather and upholstery fabrics sourced from reliable mills and tanneries. Most are imported.
- Quality control checks performed at each stage of production.
- Specialty finishing process called Kemfinish applied to all wood frames for durability.
Flexsteel
- Sources some wood frames and parts from Asia along with American suppliers. Components assembled in U.S. plants.
- Soy-based foams and other cushion materials sourced domestically from certified suppliers.
- Seat cushions feature blue steel coil springs along with dense padding in high-end models. Entry-level cushions are polyfiber wrapped around blue steel springs.
- Carefully curated selection of fabrics and leathers available from mills around the world.
- In-line and end-line quality control measures used.
- Proprietary Durablend finish applied to wood frames on indoor furniture for long-lasting wear.
While both brands engineer their furniture for longevity, England Furniture may have a slight edge for using more domestic materials and labor in production. However, Flexsteel also maintaining admirable levels of quality through their resilient finishes and decent spring support in the majority of their seating.
Customization Options
One area where Flexsteel seems to excel beyond England is the level of customization they offer clients. Aspects like:
Flexsteel Custom Choices:
- Hundreds of fabric and leather options from brands like Duralee, Pindler, and more.
- Customizable configurations for sectionals along with widths, depths, arm styles and cushion preferences.
- 33 different reclining mechanisms and infinite positions offered. Reclining sofas and sectionals available.
- Detailed custom cut foam process for ensuring perfect fit and comfort.
- Built-to-order pieces manufactured in 4-6 weeks.
England Furniture
- Fabric and leather selection tends to be more limited outside of special orders. Mainly sourced from American mills.
- Modular sectionals available but less variations compared to Flexsteel.
- Very few reclining styles offered. Mostly only in leather.
- Standardized cushion dimensions used across each collection.
- Lead times around 6-8 weeks for custom orders.
Flexsteel has more resources invested into the customization process and manufacturing agility that England Furniture lacks. Flexsteel’s wider network of global suppliers gives them an edge on material options as well.
Styles and Collections Offered
Shoppers will notice Flexsteel provides a larger breadth of furniture collections and styles compared to England:
Flexsteel Styles
- Traditional looks featuring rolled arms, tufting, nailhead trim details
- Transitional styles blending classic and contemporary elements
- Sleek contemporary designs with neutral fabrics and polished metal bases
- Casual contemporary with simple forms and kid/pet-friendly fabrics
- Hundreds of sectional configurations and modular arrangements
- Stylish accent chairs, chaises, settees and barstools
England Styles
- Mostly traditional styles reminiscent of English manor homes
- Some transitional sofa styles with sparse contemporary details
- Small selection of sectionals with chaise and corner configurations
- Occasional chairs, ottomans and complementing living room tables
- Very limited amount of barstools or accent chairs
Flexsteel offers more variety across the design spectrum while England focuses more on classic traditional styles and limited transitional seating. Shoppers desiring contemporary, modular and accent furniture may be disappointed in England’s catalog.
Where Each Brand is Made
Another difference between England and Flexsteel is their manufacturing approach:
England Furniture
- Own and operate a 500,000 square foot factory in New Tazewell, Tennessee. This is where the vast majority of their production takes place.
- Some minor assembly work done locally near the main factory.
- Almost all components, labor and finishing handled at the New Tazewell headquarters.
Flexsteel
- Operates five furniture manufacturing facilities in the United States. Locations include California, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi and Texas.
- These plants assemble parts and components from their various domestic and international suppliers.
- Utilizes a global supply chain but still manufactures all products in Flexsteel owned and operated factories.
- Able to shift production among locations to account for material availability and market demand.
Both companies manufacture their furniture in the United States using a combination of domestic and imported materials. England Furniture consolidates most of their production in one main campus while Flexsteel operates multiple factories for more flexibility.
Warranties and Policies
The warranties and policies from England and Flexsteel offer strong consumer protection overall:
England Furniture Warranties
- Limited lifetime warranty covers frames against defects.
- Cushion cores warranted for 5 years against loss of resiliency. Foam specs must be indentation-free and 1.8 pound density or higher.
- One year warranty on mechanisms including recliners and sleeper sofas.
- Leather and upholstery fabric protected for 1 year from defects and splitting.
Flexsteel Warranties
- Limited lifetime warranties on wood frames, reclining mechanisms, sleeper sofa frames, and cushion cores.
- Five year warranty protects cushions from loss of resiliency greater than 2 inches of foam.
- One year coverage for fabric and leather against wear and manufacturing flaws.
- Five year warranties included with Flexsteel Commercial healthcare seating.
The companies provide similarly strong guarantees protecting against defects and premature wear. England has a bit less coverage for cushions but overall, both brands back their products reliably over the long run.
Shopping Experience and Purchasing Process
These two brands take different approaches when it comes to the shopping experience and buying process. This will impact consumers in a few key ways:
England Furniture
- Sold exclusively in authorized England Furniture stores. No online ordering.
- Retailers assist with selections and place factory orders on the customer’s behalf.
- Standard delivery directly from England’s Tennessee warehouse within their trucking radius. White glove delivery available for a fee.
- No ability to order swatches or samples outside of stores. Must visit retailer to see product in person before purchase.
Flexsteel
- Shoppers can view styles online but must visit a Flexsteel authorized dealer to place orders.
- Dealers provide guidance on products and customization options and manage orders.
- Pieces ship from the nearest Flexsteel factory to the authorized dealer for customer pickup. Third party delivery can be arranged.
- Customers can order free fabric swatches from Flexsteel’s website to preview at home before deciding.
For both brands, the in-person experience at an authorized retailer guides the purchasing process. However, Flexsteel’s free fabric swatch program makes narrowing down options easier compared to England’s sight-unseen policy. This difference gives Flexsteel a perk for shoppers who prefer previewing samples first.
Prices and Value Comparison
As mid-range to high-end furniture manufacturers, both England and Flexsteel fetch similarly premium prices for their pieces:
| Furniture Type | England Price Range | Flexsteel Price Range |
| Sofa | $1,200 – $4,000 | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Sectional | $3,000 – $6,000 | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Leather Sofa | $2,000 – $5,000 | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| Bedroom Set | $2,000 – $5,000 | $2,500 – $7,000 |
| Dining Set | $1,500 – $4,000 | $2,000 – $5,000 |
While Flexsteel offers luxe furnishings far exceeding $10,000, their average price points align closely with England’s ranges in most categories. When it comes to bang-for-buck in their non-custom products, both deliver lasting quality and comfort for the investment.
From a value perspective, Flexsteel holds an advantage for budget-conscious shoppers on two fronts:
- Their wider global supply chain allows for lower-priced entry points into some collections. At the same quality tier, England pieces often cost slightly more due to their exclusively domestic material sourcing.
- Flexsteel’s vast customization and material options provide more opportunity to add designer details and premium features at an accessible incremental cost over ready-made pieces. England’s narrow fabric selection and standardization make high-end customization pricier.
However, for buyers who prioritize American-made materials over exotic imports, England may represent a better value overall despite Flexsteel’s advantages in affordability and customization breadth.
Pros and Cons Comparison
Based on the factors above, what are the major pros and cons of England Furniture versus Flexsteel?
England Furniture Pros
- Timeless traditional styles made to last using quality domestic materials and labor
- Plush, comfortable cushions with ample fiber, foam and spring support
- Strong warranties and defect protection for peace of mind
- Mid-high pricing but represents good value for American-made craftsmanship
England Furniture Cons
- Limited contemporary, modular and accent furniture selection
- Requires in-person viewing at retailers which can be inconvenient
- Less ability to customize configurations, fabrics, leathers and dimensions
- Slightly higher average prices within their quality segment
Flexsteel Pros
- Vast selection of styles from classic to contemporary
- Extensive customization options and premium materials available
- Detailed warranties and multi-factory manufacturing provides consistency
- Free fabric swatches help preview options from home
- Entry to mid-range prices offer great value
Flexsteel Cons
- Some imported wood components used in production
- Limited fabric selection and customization with entry-level styles
- Must visit retailer in person to order – no direct web sales
- Ultra high-end custom pieces can exceed budgets
Which brand comes out on top overall? In many ways it’s a matter of personal priorities. Shoppers wanting American-made traditional furniture have good reason to choose England. Flexsteel shines for those desiring maximum customization along with more contemporary and modular offerings.
Ultimately, you can feel confident purchasing furniture from either brand knowing their longstanding reputations for quality and service. Narrow down the pros and cons most important to you and visit authorized dealers to make an informed decision backed by the insights above.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Some brands offering comparable quality, selection, and customization to Flexsteel include Hancock & Moore, Bernhardt, and Hooker Furniture brands like Sam Moore.
Flexsteel manufactures mid-range to luxury furniture. Their standard collections are premium and comfortable. High-end pieces handcrafted with designer materials and customization can cost over $10,000.
Yes, Flexsteel maintains an excellent reputation for quality furniture backed by lifetime warranties. They engineer pieces to last using strong wood frames, durable finishes, and cushioning that resists sagging.
No, England Furniture operates independently and is not affiliated with La-Z-Boy. Both companies manufacture upholstered furniture domestically. But England focuses more on classic traditional styles while La-Z-Boy offers a wide range of reclining and casual contemporary furniture.
Final Thoughts
When evaluating England Furniture and Flexsteel, key considerations include quality of materials, customization range, styles offered, pricing and shopping experience. England excels at American-made traditional designs while Flexsteel offers more contemporary and modular options.
For plush, understated style, England is a solid choice. If maximal personalization is important, Flexsteel’s customization capabilities stand out. Visting local authorized retailers let you compare these brands firsthand.
With their reputations for enduring quality, you can’t go wrong investing in furniture from either brand for years of comfort.
